wrsni

That was the case with the previous 16, 18, and 21 models, but Honda knew this would probably be their last two stroke road bike, and badly wanted to put one over on Yamaha and Suzuki once and for all in the Japanese 250 "production" championship so for the 28 Honda decided to do things a bit differently. Instead of building a 45bhp road bike (maximum hp allowed under the Japanese licensing system) and tweaking it for racing, Honda built a small number of road legal RS 250 race bikes and then restricted them for licensing purposes. So you've "road" settings and exhausts for 45hp and then the HRC card in the computer combined with race exhausts lifts you to it's proper capability, somewhere in the region of 75 to 80. The guy I got it from has owned it from new and he also races a full blown RS 250 and says with the HRC card, race exhausts and jetted right, there's little between them. So far I've only run it in 45hp mode but sometime I'll put the kit on it and do a track day with it just for the hell!

With respect, you don't seem to know what a Honda MC28 is? As for saw, if or when lack of power becomes an issue I will certainly look to replace the silencer as you suggest, but at this time there is no issue. Although interestingly I was setting the carb on it today and it needs quite a lot more fuel than the factory setting so maybe there's something done internal already. Thanks again for the tip.

Not necessary, HRC card in the ignition, HRC wiring loom, and Dogfight exhausts (all three of which I have), do the job. But thanks anyway.

No it doesn't. Working just fine with the 24in bar at the minute but I'll certainly keep that in mind. The choosing between them thing is just that I've a little Dolmar 109 which I've had from new so I'm not parting with it, and I don't REALLY need three saws at present, and I only bought both with the intention of choosing and keeping one. However..... I believe this actually is the answer! Thanks for all replies.

Oh the perils of using the word "definitely". The Husky was starting and running well, but being a bit of a mechanical nerd I took half a day yesterday and stripped it down for a check over. Didn't strip the engine, just a compression test which was showing 160+psi which I reckoned was OK. Anyway, it was running a BM6A plug rather than the recommended BPMR7A (a big difference), coil gap was out, carb was out. So set the coil gap, proper plug, drained the tank and carb, filled with my usual fuel mix and warmed it up before a final wee tweak on the carb by ear and then give it a bit of work. Saw transformed!, crisp, clean, sharp, lovely job. So the temptation now is to put a 20in bar on the Husky and unlike it (Husky) which probably isn't worth a pile of money, I could get pretty decent dosh for the Stihl. Decisions, decisions, obviously judging by the comments they're both pretty well regarded saws. A bit strange that the Stihl would probably fetch more than double the price of the Husqvarna, don't see it being twice the saw at the minute.

Having used them both a fair bit today, yes definately. Less money in the Husky and it's working well too so might just keep it for backup but the Stihl is definitely going nowhere!

Was looking for something s/h with a bit of poke to use with a 20in bar on a saw horse but with little success (too dear and/or too rough), even had been starting to consider having to buy new, when I spotted on one of the local "flog it" sites a very tidy looking 266xp. On going to see it, the guy also had an equally tidy Stihl MS440 with a 24in bar, both saws starting well and running well. Really was stuck between the two so ended up buying both on the basis that I'll try both, keep the one I like best, and re-sell the other. Despite their age, I would intend to hang on to whichever one I keep for many years to come, so leaving aside the actual handling of the saw is there likely to be any long term reasons such as parts cost or availability, or really long term durability, etc, which should affect my decision one way or another. Thank you.

Well he's doing really well anyway, given the machinery circumstances absolutely heroic would be pretty fair. Don't think there's anybody consistently pushing it as hard this year as Cal and it'll be hugely unfair if he doesn't get race winning machinery and support for next year.

Yes, a different fuel tank. The problem is weight distribution when the tank is full so the factory bikes got a new tank which keeps the weight lower and more central which apparently makes a big difference for the first 6 or 7 laps. The Tech 3 bikes don't have it yet, not sure if or when they're going to.

G18 became the G21, not a lot of differences between them either I believe.

Well fan assist is an absolute necessity for a side discharge deck to act as a collector. Main benefit is more air flow than could ever be generated by blades on their own allowing the use of a "clam-shell" collector which will both hold more grass and sit closer to the machine. A side discharge deck will also be best deck for use in the wet when you don't have to collect as the deck itself is as close to unblockable as you'll get. Drawbacks compared to a good rear discharge machine are extra complication, quite clumsy at one side of the machine and if it DOES block, a nightmare to free up again as fan and everything will need cleared out. Rear discharge can be cleared in a couple of minutes, even less on a Kubota if all the flaps in the chute are working properly. Ever consider a compact tractor with flail collector, flail is becoming increasingly popular for many reasons. Stretching your budget a bit I know but you could start off with a cheaper tractor and upgrade it as time wore on.

As stated on another thread, I've a GR1600 which I ended up with because it turned up before I could find a tidy low hours G21 as that's what I was originally looking for. They must be a helluva mower as Kubota have actually put them back in to production and you can now buy a new G21 again. That is a very very un-Japanese thing to do but I was talking to the local Kubota dealer a couple of years ago and he was lamenting the fact that they'd replaced it, seems he wasn't the only one!

Yes there is climate change, because that's what the climate does, it changes! Always has and most likely always will. I suppose the real debate is whether mans activities on the planet are influencing the climate to change in a way which it would not otherwise have done and I'm afraid the opportunity for pretty much anyone to make an informed decision on that is long gone. Personally I can't help but think back to "O" level physics, first lesson, most basic law of physics, energy cannot be destroyed or created, only changed in form. So, if we continue to lift all these reserves of stored energy out of the ground and then release their energy in to the atmosphere (i.e. burn fossil fuels), I can't help but wonder is that not related to the increasing amounts of energy being unleashed back out of the atmosphere in the undoubted increased violence of weather systems the world over. Surely that's nothing other than the most basic physics, but I don't get the obsession with carbon.

Can't comment on the John Deere or really give a comparison but I've owned a GR1600 for coming up on two years now and can't fault it. Had a Mountfield/Castle Garden domestic spec ride on prior to the Kubota and it really was quite good but the Kubota is so much better in every respect. Given that the GR range is actually supposed to be Kubota's "economy" product the rest of their stuff must be positively tank-like.

Fair enough, on the basis of yesterdays race he's a strong title contender. But I still think at the end of the season it'll be Lorenzo.

Dundrod and possibly Tandragee are the only ones still worth mentioning, the rest have either been wound up or sanitised beyond recognition.

Now your talking!

Yes, but to be fair in any given era that statement applies to a number of riders well in to double figures. The true greats shine when things are difficult, Duke in the early years at Gilera, Hailwood on the 500 Honda, Read on the MV, Lawson on the Honda and then Cagiva, and as it transpires, Stoner on the Ducati, to name but a few. If you're a Rossi fan you'll simply disregard the past two seasons, if you're simply a fan of GP racing prepared to accept things as proven on track, then you just can't turn a blind eye to how badly it exposed his true abilities.

Well I suppose you then get into the bigger issue of popularity of the race series. Personally, I could watch Stoner ride a motorcycle all day, on his own. He managed to do things with a bike lap in, lap out, that the rest of us can only dream of, or if we're really lucky may have managed once, and then usually totally by accident. I don't give a jot for post race celebrations, in fact I thought Stoners quiet reserved but obvious delight within himself was very refreshing and honest. I didn't watch it to determine who had the best personality, I watched it to see phenominal riding ability allied to determination and bravery. But then, that's me. Increasingly I realise that I simply don't fit in with the modern world so I suppose modern Moto GP is little different.

You also forgot to mention the fact that for a year or so prior to the invasion she had empowered her foreign secretary to open discussions with the Argentians with a view to a handover. But Galtieri jumped the gun and invaded, UK public opinion (bolstered by that bastion of intellect "The Sun" ) went nuts and Thatcher seen her opportunity!

Well sadly you are correct. Thanks to his hyped up profile over the years, for as long as Rossi participates he will be the center of attention, and in my opinion to the detriment of MGP as a class of racing. It's hard to imagine that any other sportsman could have endured the humiliation of having their true ability exposed over a two year period to the degree that Rossi just has and yet still be arranged back in to a position where he can be at the front again. There were at least half a dozen people more deserving of that factory Yamaha ride than Rossi yet popularity and commercial potential put him on the bike in preference to them. Even on Sunday we saw a flawless performance from the reigning world champion yet it's barely mentioned. Rossi's dismal performance with Ducati should have been allowed to be his final chapter.

Aye the Laverty boys are sound fellas, reared just down the road from me a bit. Nice to see Michael in a world championship ride at last and I'm quite sure he'll deliver all that can be realistically expected from the machinery he's on.

Well Simo was an enigma wasn't he, his brush with Pedrosa upset and incurred the wrath of the (Spanish) organisers, but pretty much ensured his status as hero with everyone else. Marquez will be OK unless he has a barge up with Rossi and then the "fans" will turn against him as they do with pretty much anyone who dares question Valentinos supposed greatness. On the bike thing, I think the Yamaha is still the best all round machine out there at pretty much any track. There might be tracks which suit the Honda better than others but I think they ALL suit the Yamaha.

A bit of reality. Firstly, there are four potential race winning bikes, two factory Yamahas and two factory Hondas. One of the Hondas is being ridden by a class rookie and no matter how good the rookie, or how good the bike, it's acknowledged that they need a season to fully get to grips with things. The other Honda is then Pedrosa, and Pedrosa will do what he's always done, be stunning and untouchable every now and again and be quite average the rest of the time. So second for Rossi on a fairly regular basis is pretty much a given, if he wants to impress properly and live up to what he's supposed to be then he needs to beat Lorenzo, and if he beats Lorenzo this year then I reckon he'll be world champion. After the first race Lorenzo looks awesome. And yes, Stoner on track is seriously missed. The powers that be should never have let him retire, but then they were too obsessed with Rossi and Marquess.

I'm a bit of a two-stroke collector. This is the newest bike I have, 94 Honda NSR250 MC28, known as the "smart card" NSR, all the other stuff is 70's or 80's.